Theodore martin



(Nd Model.)

T. MARTIN. LATCH AND LOOK OOMBINED.

No. 426,834. Patented Apr. 29, 1890 Wit? 55015: I iwvav tnrThemamrawartir Att'u.

1m: humus PETERS 00., Pmmyurnm, WASHINGTON o c tal section on line X Xin Fig. 1.

ATENT FFICE.

LATC H AND LOCK COMBINED.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent 0. 426,834, dated April 29,1890.

Application filed September 20, 1889- Serial No. 324,575. (No model.)

tion consists in the peculiar construction, ar-

rangement, and combination of the parts, all as more fully hereinafterdescribed, and shown in the drawings which accompany this specification,and in which Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved lock with the coverof the casing removed and the parts shown in the position in which thedevice operates as an ordinary latch-lock. Fig. 2 1s a similarelevation, showing the parts in the position when the device operates asa locking-latch. Fig. 3 is a similar elevation, with the locking-boltshown in dotted outlines only and with the key in the act of operatingthe locking-bolt. Fig. l is a horizon- Fig. 5 is a detached perspectiveview of the locking-bolt. Flg. 6 is a detached elevation of thedetachable stopper.

A is the casing of the lock. B is the cover, removably secured thereto.O isv the latch, D are the spindle-cranks, and E is the actuat-1ng-spindle carrying the door-knobs, all as in the usual construction.

F is the latch-spring. This is made in the form of an ordinaryleaf-sprin g, and is secured in Vertical position against the front wallof the casing, with its lower end secured between suitable lugs formedon the inside of the easing and with its free end engaging on the headof the latch. This arrangement brings this spring out of the way of alloperating parts", prevents it from becoming accidentally displaced, andwhen not in use relieves it from any strain.

G is an internal locking-bolt slidingly secured in position by suitablelugssuch as the lugs aformed integral with the casing and adapted tosupport and guide the locking-bolt in its horizontal sliding movement.The front end of this bolt has a vertical arm G, which extends upwardlyinto proximity to the latchbolt, and is adapted to engage with its freeend 011 the head of the latch-bolt, as shown in Fig. 2.

The locking-bolt is slidingly operated by a tumbler is provided with alug f nearits free end, which is adapted to engage with a stud g, formedon the upper edge of'the bolt G, all so arranged that when the tumbleris raised by means of the key, as in Fig. 3, the lug f is disengagedfrom the stud g, to allow the key to move the tumbler backward orforward.

When the locking-bolt is projected, as in Figs. 2 and 8, the lug f dropsin behind the stud g and prevents the locking-bolt from sliding back,thus locking the latch. When the locking-bolt is retracted, the lug fdrops in front of the stud g, as shown in Fig. 1, and the latch is freeto be operated while thelocking-bolt is locked out of engagement. Thuswithout the use of akey the locking-bolt cannot be operated, and thelatch presents all the advantages of a latch and lock, with theadditional advantage that the space in the front of the casing isadvantageously utilized for the latch-spring.

It is well known that the latch and bolt springs in most locks are acontinual source of trouble. They are indifferently held in position,are of necessity cramped and small, and by the mere loss of tension orfrom wear soon become displaced and inoperative.

My latch-spring is of the most simple and effective form. It cannot beinterfered with by the movable parts. It cannot be accidentallydisplaced, and in its normal position it may be entirely free fromtension.

I am aware that locking-latches have been constructed heretofore; butthe form of my locking-latch is new, in that it is provided 1ogravity-dog has a double function.

with the vertical arm 1', which permits of placing the locking-bolt asfar below the latchbolt as desired to bring the key-hole in a convenientposition where the spindle'knobs are 5 not in the way.

I preferably dispense with the usual spring for the tumbler altogether,and use in lieu thereof a gravity-dog I,which is pivotally secured abovethe tumbler on a stud J. This It bears with its weight in the tumbler toperform the oflice of a tumbler-spring, and in addition it is adapted toengage in a notch K, formed on the locking-bolt, when the latter is inengagement with the latch, as shown in Fig. 2.

Thus if it is attempted to force the latch-lock when it is locked theforce is brought on the gravity-dog instead of on the lug f, and as theformer is by far the stronger device to resist 2o the forcing of thelock possible damage to the tumbler is thereby avoided, and if the lug fon the tumbler should wear out or break oif the lock would be stilloperative. The tumbler itself is free to drop by its own grav- 2 5 ity,and the weight of the dog I is sufficient to insure its positive action.For additional safety, however, I relieve the tumbler on its under sideat i, so that as soon as the key has lifted up the tumbler and dog byengaging on the portion j of the tumbler, as shown in Fig.

3, the abrupt relief 2' will allow the tumbler and dog to drop of asudden and acquire 1n 0- mentum, which will render their operation quitepositive. The dog is prevented from accidental displacement by strikingwith its back against the latch if thrown up too far. Its pivotal stud Jis preferably provided with a screw-threaded aperture to receive one ofthe screws, by means of which the cover of the lock is secured to thecasing, and a solid corner is formed on the dog to engage into the notchK of the locking-bolt and solidly abut against it without danger ofbeing forced out.

In operation the key is adapted to project and retract the locking-bolt.In projecting it the key has to lift up the tumbler first to disengagethe stud f from the locking-bolt. As soon as this is accomplished thekey engages on the offset 1) of the locking-bolt and commences toproject it, while it upholds the tumbler at the same time until the boltis projected, when the tumbler is free to drop. By providing the tumblerwith the raised por- 5 5 tion 7:. it will also lift the dog, and thuswhen it is free from the key the dog is free to fall a certain distance,so that its momentum will overcome any possible tendency to stick before it has fully dropped into the notch K.

In unlocking, the tumbler is first raised by the key until the. studf isdisengaged from the locking-bolt. At the same time the dog is lifted outof its el'lga-gement into the notch K the further movement of the keyretracts the bolt, upholding at the same time the tumbler and dog untilthe bolt is fully retracted, when the tumbler and dog fall back againinto the positions shown in Fig. 1.

It is obvious that my improvement is adapt ed to be readily applied inwhole or in parts to any style of latch-lock in ordinary use Withoutrequiring much change in the pattern, as the general dimensions andlocation of the different parts may be readily maintained, the onlyradical change required being merely that of providing a locking-bolt ofmy construction. It is further obvious that a safer lock may be obtainedby using more than one tumbler in the well-known manner.

Should it be desired to provide my lock with a so-called night-latch, Ipropose to use a stopper L, as shown in Fig. 6, which is adapted to beinserted in a suitable aperture M in the casing back of the head of thelatch, a feather m, formed on the shank of the key, preventing it fromfalling out accidentally when the stopper is properly turned in thelock; but it may be withdrawn like any other key.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. In a locking-latch, the combination,with the latch O, of the interior horizontally-sliding locking-bolt G,slidingly secured to the casing and adapted to be operated by a key, thetumbler I, controlling said locking-bolt, and the gravity-clog I,pivotally secured above the tumbler, substantially as described.

2. In a locking-latch, the combination, with the latch-bolt, of theinterior locking-bolt (i, the head G thereof projecting at right anglestherefrom into proximity with the latch-bolt, the flange d and offset con the locking-bolt, the tumbler I, pivotally secured between the casingand locking-bolt and adapted to control the lockinglatch, thegravity-dog 1', adapted to bear on said tumbler, and the notch K or itsequivalent on the locking-bolt, all. arranged to operate substantiallyas described.

3. A locking-latch consisting of the casing A,the latch O, provided withthe latch-sp1.'ing F, the lockingbolt G, provided with the head Gr,adapted to engage on the head of the latclrbolt, the tumbler I,controllil'lg the latchbolt and having the clearance i on its underside, the gravity-dog I, bearing on the tumbler, and the notch K on thelocking-bolt, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses,this 20th day of August, 1880.

THEODORE MARTIN.

ITO

